Please join me as I talk with Deborah Yemm, author of the blog Missing Mom. Deborah is the child of adoptees, who sought to honor her parents and find her own history by applying for documents from the states of Tennessee and Texas. Deborahs story:

Mentioned in the podcast:

Tennessee Childrens' Home Society: an orphanage that existed in the state of Tennessee during the first half of the twentieth century. The Society is best known because of the practices of Georgia Tann, who ran the Memphis branch. For more information, visit the website of the Memphis Public Library, which maintains an extensive archive on the childrens' home. www.memphislibrary.org

Georgia Tann: the child trafficking practiced by this woman resulted in a huge scandal that led to the state of Tennessee allowing access to adoption records to people adopted through the Tennessee Childrens Home Society during her tenure as director. 

Tennessee Adoption laws: Tennessee allows adoptees over the age of 21 to request their records. This does not guarantee you will be given your records. For frequently asked questions, visit: tn.gov, Tennessee Adoption Records FAQ. the place to find an application is at files.dcs.tn.gov. Some aspects of current law are due to change in July of this year. For more information on the law, you can visit adopteerightslaw.com. click Find Out, under Who Holds Your Truth, and go to the state of Tennessee and click. 

Salvation Army Childrens Services: Foster Care and Adoption Program: the Salvation Armys Childrens Services are headquartered at 2200 Hamilton St, Allentown, Pa 18104. http:/www.care4kids.net/  (610) 821 7706

Texas Adoption Laws: Texas law allows adoptees over the age of 18 to apply for a non-certified copy of their original birth certificate as long as the applicant can provide the names of the parents listed on the original, and, if I am reading this correctly, were placed for adoption through the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. You can visit the Texas Department of State Health Services at www.dshs.state.tx.us and type in Original Birth Certificate for Adult Adoptee for directions on how to apply 

Before We Were Yours: a book by Lisa Wingate, inspired by accounts of the Georgia Tann/Tennessee Childrens Home Society child trafficking scandal. 

The Baby Thief: a non-fiction account of the events that took place at the Tennessee Childrens Home Society and Georgia Tanns impact on the commercialiation of adoption,  by Barbara Bisantz Raymond

WPA: the Works Progress Administration was part of the New Deal, providing jobs to millions of Americans during the years 1935-1943. Employees worked on public works projects nationwide.